Missouri Supreme Court will hear Clay Chastain’s case on light rail

In 2011, a committee of petitioners submitted enough valid signatures to put Chastain’s sales tax and light rail plan on the ballot. But the City Council refused to do so, saying the ballot measure violated the state constitution. A circuit court and an appeals court agreed with the city’s position. The Missouri Supreme Court will now review those rulings.

The Missouri Supreme Court has agreed to hear Clay Chastain’s case challenging the Kansas City Council’s decision to leave his light rail plan off the ballot.

In an order entered Tuesday, the court said it would hear arguments in Chastain’s long-running battle to put a light rail proposal before voters.

“We live to fight again,” the public transit enthusiast said in an email.

The court did not say when it will hear the case.

In 2011, a committee of petitioners submitted enough valid signatures to put Chastain’s sales tax and light rail plan on the ballot. But the City Council refused to do so, saying the ballot measure violated the state constitution.

A circuit court and an appeals court agreed with the city’s position. The Missouri Supreme Court will now review those rulings.